During her time at 91��ɫ, Jenna pursued a wide range of subjects trying to explore what her niche in social work might be. She took different electives, including music, American Sign Language, philosophy, world history, world religions. “I really liked that I got to do all of those courses…and had so many options for social work classes,” she said.

Was social work what she thought it would be? “I think it was more,” she said. “We had such great faculty that challenged our way of thinking…and that’s what I like about 91��ɫ. It wasn’t one area of thought that we had to subscribe to. If you could critically articulate your arguments…that was welcomed.”

After graduation with a master’s degree, Jenna has become known for her work with vulnerable populations and BIPOC groups at community agencies and 91��ɫ Region where she served in a number of front-line positions before joining the strategies and partnership branch department as a policy and project development specialist. Some have suggested she’s an activist, working to advance projects such as a national daycare program and more inclusive social policies for the BIPOC community, but Jenna prefers the term, “proactive”.

“I struggle with calling myself an activist,” she said, “because I feel there are so many other people doing incredible work out there regularly. I definitely knew when I was in those front-line roles that it wasn’t about just accepting the system as it is but really challenging it to try and get outcomes for my clients. I think that’s where I found out I really do enjoy advocacy and activist work.”

She became involved in various stakeholder outreach projects and was invited to join an online community for Black mothers with a large following called Black Moms Connection. In response to one particular post about daycare, she “rambled” about the need for a national daycare program and how crucial it was to women. “Lots of people don’t realize that [daycare] literally is the access point of whether women enter the workforce or not,” she said. “What is the point of working in a job only for the entire paycheck to go towards childcare?”

A CBC producer who was a member of the group liked her comments and asked if she would be willing to share them as part of a television segment being produced by former CBC news anchor Peter Mansbridge. They were looking for 10 participants to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on issues important to them and asked if she could put her name in for consideration. Within days, the call came: “How fast can you get to Ottawa?” Her meeting with Trudeau about the need for a national daycare program aired on . In the interview, Trudeau said he wouldn’t forget their conversation. Five years later, the federal government announced a $30-billion initiative for Canada’s first national daycare program.

Jenna is currently working on a project with her colleagues to bring BIPOC professionals engaged in diversity, equity and inclusion work together for a retreat to share experiences and heal because “that work is really hard and difficult”. She is also working to establish a BIPOC committee in her CUPE local at 91��ɫ Region.

“It’s difficult as a Black woman trying to explain [systemic racism] every single day of my life,” she said. “I have to justify my experiences and prove that they’re true. And it’s tough work, but I keep coming back to it because it’s important work, because I’m passionate about it, because our future generations deserve to live in a world where everyone is free from discrimination and oppression and racism.

“I have a saying – we can’t do everything, but we can find our lane and that’s what I really focused on, finding my lane. I think one thing that’s kept me motivated is, I always celebrate the wins, always, no matter big or small, with clients, on my own, always celebrate the wins. That’s how I stay grounded and not rage against the machine every single day.”

The post Alumni Spotlight: Jenna Dolly, (BSW ’07, MSW ’09) appeared first on Division of Advancement - Alumni and Friends.

Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the world, and there is no community that is immune from this injustice.

"When my mom was in elementary school, her best friend went missing,” says Mikhaela. “About eight years ago, they were reconnected, and my mom began to learn her story. At the age of 14, my mom’s friend was trafficked for sex in Canada.” When she heard the story, Mikhaela was shocked and heartbroken. She began asking questions and doing research to better understand the realities of human trafficking. The more she learned, the more she was compelled to fight this injustice and to find ways to prevent other people from being trafficked locally and globally.

In 2013, Mikhaela joined Untied Freedom, an anti-human trafficking committee, to raise awareness and funds for a local and a global anti-trafficking organization. Through their events, she learned about an organization called in India. The work they were doing to support individuals post-trafficking was unparalleled. “I hoped to learn from their efforts and share their practices in Canada in order to strengthen our approaches to reintegration and rehabilitation,” she explains.

While completing her Master of Education at 91��ɫ, Mikhaela travelled to India to visit Mahima Homes and listened to the stories of women and girls who had been trafficked as part of her thesis research. “They shared their stories of resilience and their dreams for the future. The freedom fighters - the women and girls who shared their stories with me - inspired me through their courage, their desire to support others, and their outlook on life.”

Upon returning to Canada, Mikhaela was invited to share with the Federal Government learnings from her research on human trafficking in India with the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. “It was a privilege and honour to be invited to advocate on behalf of the women and girls who had entrusted me with their stories,” she confesses.

“During the following months, I was deeply troubled in my workplace and volunteer settings; I felt disconnected from my purpose. I believe the most important thing in life is relationships, and after the tragic passing of , I was moved by the immeasurable impact that she made in her 20 years of life. I wondered, “How can I use my time, skills and knowledge to fight for justice and to love other people authentically?” Shortly afterward, I left my career in the post-secondary sector to work in an environment where I could raise awareness on human trafficking and journey alongside survivors full-time.”

Today, Mikhaela is an anti-trafficking advocate, educator and researcher. She helps raise awareness as a preventive measure and conducts research to disseminate new knowledge on human trafficking. She connects with individuals who have been impacted by trafficking and supports organizations that are dedicated to ending exploitation in various ways.

 In January 2020, she launched a and more recently a called Freedom Fighters: Code Gray which aims to inform the public on human trafficking and empower them to take action to prevent human trafficking in their communities.

“I believe that it is incredibly important to support survivor-led initiatives and to use our time and resources to partner meaningfully with individuals who have lived experience.”

Mikhaela is now the chair of Untied Freedom, serves as an advisory team member at , and as a board member at , a survivor-led organization committed to ending sexual exploitation in Canada. She is currently working as a consultant for and . Mikhaela has been published in the Journal for Teaching & Learning, and she authored a chapter in the book Global Citizenship Education: Challenges and Successes recently published by the University of Toronto Press. Whether it’s interacting with individuals impacted by sex trafficking and sexual exploitation through care outreach, doing research, advising anti-trafficking organisations or doing advocacy work, she is always looking for ways to make herself useful in the fight to end human trafficking. “My work is rooted in the belief that every human being has value and worth,” Mikhaela explains.

“If you look at the sheer statistics of human trafficking in the world, it can be overwhelming. I want to highlight that each number represents a different person with a unique story and dream for the future. We need to continue to find ways to work together to shed light on this injustice and support individuals who have been impacted by exploitation in Canada and in the world."

To learn more about human trafficking and resources available in Canada visit: and . If there is immediate danger or if you suspect a child under 18 is being trafficked, call 911 or your local police service. For information and support, call Canada’s confidential Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-833-900-1010 or visit .

Pleins feux sur la diplômée Mikhaela Gray-Beerman (B.A. 2014, M. Éd. 2018)

Mikhaela Gray-Beerman (B.A. 2014, M. Éd. 2018) fait partie des 30 artisans du changement de moins 30 ans de 91��ɫ. Chercheuse, éducatrice et consultante pour des organismes à but non lucratif, Mikhaela œuvre activement contre la traite des personnes. Elle trouve son inspiration dans les récits inspirants des femmes et des filles qui se sont confiées à elle.

La traite des personnes est l’un des délits en plus forte croissance dans le monde. Aucune communauté n’est à l’abri de cette injustice.

« Quand ma mère était à l’école élémentaire, sa meilleure amie a disparu, raconte Mikhaela. Huit ans plus tard environ, quand elles se sont retrouvées, ma mère a appris son histoire : à l’âge de 14 ans, son amie était devenue victime du commerce du sexe au Canada. »

En apprenant cette histoire, Mikhaela a eu le cœur brisé. Elle a commencé à poser des questions et à faire des recherches pour mieux comprendre les réalités de la traite des personnes. Plus elle en apprenait sur la question, plus elle se sentait tenue de lutter contre cette injustice et de trouver des moyens d’empêcher que d’autres personnes soient victimes de la traite des personnes à l’échelle locale et mondiale.

En 2013, Mikhaela a rejoint Untied Freedom, un comité de lutte contre la traite des personnes, afin de sensibiliser la population et de collecter des fonds pour des organisations locales et mondiales. Elle a ainsi découvert l’existence de l’organisation  en Inde. Le travail que fait cette organisation pour appuyer les victimes de la traite des personnes est incomparable. « Je souhaitais apprendre de leurs efforts et promouvoir leurs pratiques au Canada afin de renforcer nos approches en matière de réhabilitation », explique Mikhaela.

Alors qu’elle poursuivait sa maîtrise en éducation à l’Université 91��ɫ, Mikhaela s’est rendue en Inde dans le cadre de sa thèse pour visiter les Mahima Homes. Elle a écouté les récits de femmes et de filles victimes de la traite des personnes. « Elles m’ont raconté leurs histoires de résilience et m’ont confié leurs rêves d’avenir. Le courage, le désir d’aider les autres et la vision de la vie des freedom fighters (les femmes et les filles qui m’ont raconté leurs histoires) m’ont vraiment inspirée ».

À son retour au Canada, le gouvernement fédéral a invité Mikhaela à faire part de ses découvertes sur la traite des personnes en Inde au Comité permanent de la justice et des droits de la personne. « Ce fut un privilège et un honneur d’être invitée à défendre les intérêts des femmes et des filles qui m’avaient confié leurs histoires », confie-t-elle.

« Au cours des mois qui ont suivi, je me suis sentie fortement ébranlée au travail et dans mes activités de bénévolat. J’avais l’impression de m’éloigner de mon objectif, car je suis convaincue que les relations sont la chose la plus importante dans la vie. Après le décès tragique de , le rayonnement incroyable qu’elle a eu en à peine 20 ans m’a beaucoup émue. Je me suis demandé comment je pouvais utiliser mon temps, mes compétences et mes connaissances pour lutter pour la justice et pour aimer les autres de manière authentique. Peu de temps après, j’ai abandonné ma carrière dans le secteur postsecondaire pour travailler dans un milieu où je pourrais sensibiliser la population à la traite des personnes et côtoyer des survivantes tous les jours. »

Aujourd’hui, Mikhaela est une chercheuse, une éducatrice et une fervente défenseure des mesures de lutte contre la traite des personnes. Elle préconise des mesures préventives en sensibilisant la population et en menant des recherches afin de diffuser de nouvelles informations sur la traite des personnes. Elle entre en contact avec des personnes qui ont été touchées par la traite et soutient des organisations qui sont déterminées à mettre fin à l’exploitation de diverses manières.

En janvier 2020, elle a lancé une  et plus récemment un &�Բ�����;���Գپ��ٳܱ�é&�Բ�����;Freedom Fighters : Code Gray qui vise à informer les membres du public sur la traite des personnes et de leur donner des moyens d’agir pour prévenir la traite des personnes dans leurs communautés.

« Il est extrêmement important d’appuyer les organisations dirigées par des survivantes et d’utiliser notre temps et nos ressources pour collaborer activement avec les personnes qui ont vécu ces expériences ».

Aujourd’hui, Mikhaela est présidente de Untied Freedom, membre de l’équipe consultative , et membre du conseil d’administration de , une organisation qui s’engage à mettre fin à l’exploitation sexuelle au Canada. Elle travaille présentement en tant que consultante pour  et . Les articles de Mikhaela ont été publiés dans le Journal for Teaching & Learning. Elle a également rédigé un chapitre dans le livre Global Citizenship Education : Challenges and Successes qui a été publié récemment par University of Toronto Press. Qu’il s’agisse d’interagir avec des individus victimes de traite sexuelle ou d’exploitation sexuelle dans le cadre de programmes de soin, de faire de la recherche, de donner des conseils à des organisations de lutte contre la traite ou de mener des activités de sensibilisation, Mikhaela cherche toujours des moyens de contrecarrer la traite des personnes. « Mon travail repose sur la conviction que chaque être humain est important », explique-t-elle.

« Les statistiques sur la traite des personnes dans le monde sont bouleversantes. Je tiens à rappeler que chaque statistique représente une personne ayant une histoire et un rêve d’avenir. Nous devons continuer de trouver des façons de collaborer pour dénoncer cette injustice et appuyer les individus qui ont été exploités au Canada et partout dans le monde ».

Pour en savoir plus sur la traite des personnes et sur les ressources disponibles au Canada, consultez les sites suivants : et . En cas de danger immédiat ou si vous avez de bonnes raisons de croire qu’un enfant de moins de 18 ans est victime de traite des personnes, veuillez composer le 911 ou le numéro de votre service de police local. Pour obtenir de l’information ou du soutien, communiquez avec la Ligne d’urgence canadienne contre la traite des personnes en composant le 1-833-900-1010 ou visitez .

The post Alumni Spotlight: Mikhaela Gray-Beerman (BA '14, MEd '18) appeared first on Division of Advancement - Alumni and Friends.

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